Part 3 (1/2)

Being elderly and huge, it required far more time for Mr. Jayres to make the ascent to his office than for Bootsey. Having this fact in mind, Bootsey sat down upon the first step of the first flight, intending to wait until Mr. Jayres had at least reached the final flight before he started up at all. He failed to communicate his resolution, however, and when Mr. Jayres turned about upon the third floor, hearing no footsteps behind him, he stopped. He frowned. He clinched his fist and swore.

”There'll be murder on me,” he said, ”I know there will, if that Boy don't do better! Now, where the pestering d.i.c.kens can he be?”

Mr. Jayres leaned over the bannister and started to call. ”Boo--” he roared, and then checked himself. ”Drat such a name as that,” he said.

”Who ever heard of a civilized Boy being called Bootsey? What'll people think to see a man of my age hanging over a bannister yelling 'Bootsey'!

No, I must go down and hunt him up. I wonder why I keep that Boy? I wonder why I do it?”

Mr. Jayres turned, and with a heavy sigh he began to descend to the street. On the second landing he met Bootsey smoking a cigarette and whistling. Mr. Jayres did not fly into a pa.s.sion. He did not grow red and frantic. He just took Bootsey by the hand and led him, step by step, up the rest of the way to the office. He drew him inside, shut the door, and led him over to his own table. Then he sat down, still holding Bootsey's hand, and waited until he had caught his breath.

”Now, then,” he said, at last.

”Yez'r,” said Bootsey.

”You're a miserable little rogue!” said Mr. Jayres.

Bootsey held his peace.

”I've stood your deviltries till I've got no patience left, and now I'm going to discharge you!”

”Aw, don't,” said Bootsey.

”Yes,” said Mr. Jayres, ”I will; if I don't, the end of it all will be murder. Some time or other I'll be seized of a pa.s.sion, and there's no telling what'll happen. There's your two dollars to the end of the week--now, go!”

”Aw, now,” said Bootsey, ”wot's de use? I aint done nawfin'. 'Fi gets bounced mom'll drub me awful! You said you wanted me to take a letter up to Harlem dis afternoon.”

”Yes, you scamp! And here's the afternoon half gone.”

”O'll have it dere in less 'n no time,” pleaded Bootsey.

Mr. Jayres scowled hard at Bootsey and hesitated. But finally he drew the letter from the drawer of his table and handed it over, saying as he did so, ”If you aint back here by 5 o'clock, I'll break every bone in your body!”

Bootsey left the office with great precipitation, and as he closed the door behind him, Mr. Jayres glared morosely at a knot-hole in the floor.

”Funny about that boy!” he said reflectively. ”I don't know as I ever gave in to any living human being before that Boy came along in all my life.”

Mr. Jayres turned to his table and began to write, but was almost immediately interrupted by a knock upon the door. He called out a summons to enter, and two people, a man and a woman, came in. The man was large, stolid, and rather vacant in his expression. The woman was small and quick and sharp.

”Well, sir,” said Mr. Jayres.

The woman poked the man and told him to speak.

”We've called--” said the man slowly.

”About your advertis.e.m.e.nt in the paper,” added the woman quickly.

”Which paper?” asked Mr Jayres.

”Where's the paper?” asked the man, turning to the woman.

”Here,” she replied, producing it.